El Dorado High Ester Blend Old Rum 2012
El Dorado High Ester Blend Old Rum 2012 is a 57% ABV (114 proof) cask-strength Demerara rum in a 750mL bottle — the first of Demerara Distillers' nine high-ester blends, marrying two 2012-distilled marques aged 11 years in ex-bourbon casks at Guyana's Diamond Distillery. Peanut brittle, toffee, cocoa and orange zest on the nose give way to caramel, honey, dried figs and nutmeg over classic Demerara minerality. Available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
- ABV: 57% (114 proof), bottled at cask strength
- Size: 750mL
- Age: 11 years in ex-bourbon casks; distilled 2012
- Marques: LBI (La Bonne Intention, French Savalle still) + DHE (Diamond High Ester, John Dore double retort pot still, ester levels over 1,500 g/hL AA)
- Distillery: Demerara Distillers Ltd, Diamond Distillery, Guyana — the country's last remaining rum distillery
Two Marques, One Glorious Funk
High-ester rum is rum for people who read the back label first, and this bottle is a masterclass. The DHE marque — fermented over months and distilled slow at high reflux in a one-of-a-kind 1950s John Dore still — brings concentrated tropical fruit and confection, while the LBI marque from the historic French Savalle still adds a honeyed, medium-bodied counterweight. Together they deliver intensity without gamey hogo. Browse more rum, explore El Dorado, or compare the rest of the Demerara range.
Tasting Notes
Nose: peanut brittle, toffee, cocoa powder, orange zest, figs and star-fruit with cinnamon, clove and vanilla. Palate: rich caramel, honey, dried figs, clove, dark chocolate and burnt caramel, easing into a honeyed profile. Finish: long and confectionary — vanilla, faint smoke and Demerara minerality with a spicy leather edge.
How to Enjoy
Neat at room temperature in a tulip glass, or over a single large cube — cask strength rewards patience. A few drops of water open the fruit. This is a sipper, not a mixer.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are LBI and DHE? Two marques from Demerara Distillers' Diamond Distillery: LBI (La Bonne Intention) from the historic French Savalle column still, and DHE (Diamond High Ester) from the John Dore double retort pot still — the first time these rums have been released to the public as a blend.
How strong is the El Dorado High Ester Blend 2012? 114 proof (57% ABV), bottled at cask strength.
How old is it? Distilled in 2012 and aged 11 years in ex-bourbon casks.
For the rum drinker who has tried everything — order the El Dorado High Ester Blend 2012 online from Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA.